Premier League Gameweek 20: Champs and Chumps

We analyse the very best and worst of the Premier League’s fantasy performers for a combined Gameweek 20.

Champs

Olivier Giroud (Arsenal)

PlayON Price: £11.4m

PlayON Points: 3100

Arsenal narrowly averted disaster away to Bournemouth midweek and it was all thanks to the often marginalised Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman has been a fringe player for much of the season but he’s arguably playing some of his most productive football ever in a red and white shirt having scored six goals from ten substitute appearances.

In Gameweek 2o he not only laid on teammates Alexis Sanchez and Lucas Perez but likewise scored the all important equaliser to clamber back from a three goal deficit. Is Giroud now a bonafide fantasy option again? That’s a little hard to say, with Alexis Sanchez so effective in the lone forward position it’s unlikely the Frenchman will oust him any time soon. However his goal contribution is hard to ignore and may force Wenger’s hand into starting him in the coming weeks.

Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur)

PlayON Price: £11.6m

PlayON Points: 2755

The youngster has been the star of the show for Spurs of late netting six goals in his last three games and it was the most recent game that proved most definitive. The England international put away two identikit goals to show that aerial ability is just another string in his considerable bow.

Christian Eriksen teed up the midfielder twice from the same position and twice Alli outjumped the Chelsea defence to power home. Alli’s fantasy stock has risen considerably in recent weeks and will soar higher in Gameweek 21 as Spurs line up at home to West Brom.

Vito Mannone (Sunderland)

PlayON Price: £6.5m

PlayON Points: 2550

Sunderland pulled a very impressive result out of the bag in Gameweek 20, holding and frustrating Liverpool to 2-2 draw at home. Coming back in for the injured goalkeeping wunderkind, Jordan Pickford, Mannone did his chances no harm with a stunning performance that effectively earned the point for his side.

The Italian may have conceded two at hands of Daniel Sturridge and Sadio Mane, but he denied them and their teammates on no less than 13 other occasions. As a result, he ran out as man of the match and ranked as the highest scoring goalkeeper in PlayON.

Chumps

Hector Bellerin (Arsenal)

PlayON Price: £8.6m

PlayON Points: -500

The two day turnaround hit Arsenal hard, going from a comprehensive 2-0 win over Crystal Palace to a rollercoaster 3-3 draw with Bournemouth. Hector Bellerin and his performances were illustrative of this.

The Spaniard put in a fine showing in Gameweek 19, but was one of the Gunners worst players in Gameweek 20 with the likes of Ryan Fraser giving him the runaround in the 3-3 barnstormer. Fatigue was probably the deciding factor, but Bellerin’s selection rate shouldn’t diminish with Swansea next on the horizon.

Fernandinho (Manchester City)

PlayON Price: £8.1m

PlayON Points: -315

The Brazilian anchorman is starting to look like a serious liability for Manchester City this season and that is not something you would have said about Fernandinho up until this season.

Claiming his third red card of 2016/17 in all competitions, the Brazil international will miss the next three Premier League games, including clashes with Everton, Spurs and West Ham.

Artur Boruc (Bournemouth)

PlayON Price: £6.5m

PlayON Points: -300

In a 20 minute flurry, Bournemouth surrendered a three goal lead and three full points to a resurgent Arsenal side. Artur Boruc was one of the primary causes of this comeback, from Bournemouth’s perspective, failing to make more than one save in 90 minutes.